Originally Posted by
hugolover
...It will be interesting as time goes on if the higher costs will pay off for the owner in terms of profitability vs the Hilton's lower brand standards and brand recognition.
The power of the Hilton brand, with the iconic nature of the hotel and its location, meant that it was able to command higher room rates than the far more comfortable Intercontinental. With Hilton now off the map, that leaves the property, now marketed by IHG, refurbished and offering Intercontinental's higher standards, in a very strong position to rake in the cash from what is a rising market.
Hilton group now offers only a Garden Inn in the city: a very nice hotel in a terrific location, but on a lower rung of the ladder. Yet for my upcoming visit to Bucharest I see even the HGI is commanding over EUR200 a night for entry-level rooms, substantially more than Sheraton, JWMarriot and the Grand (the shell of the old IC). The new IC, ex-Hilton, is confidently asking for close on EUR400.
Fortunately I secured my reservation some months' back, but couldn't resist looking at current prices
